By Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire Film Critic
Introducing DC comics latest crime combatant, Black Adam. His superhero traits are similar to Superman’s (flying, ultra-strength, etc.), but there are key differences. One has a pleasant personality and values human lives, and the other, an angry malcontent, doesn’t give a flying leap. One was born on Krypton and grew up on earth, which many moviegoers already know. However, less is known about the enigmatic bad boy. Hence this origin film, which needs to establish Black Adam’s beginnings, why he’s so embittered and how he fits into the world, or at least the DC comics universe.
Screenwriters Adam Sztykiel (Rampage), Rory Haines (The Mauritanian) and Sohrab Noshirvani (Informer) don’t have a successful superhero movie in their spotty filmographies. Yet, they were tasked with developing characters, storylines, dialogue and major plot points for a comic book anti-hero who was conceived back in 1945 and swathed in Middle Eastern culture. Former music video and commercial director turned filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra, who worked with Johnson on Jungle Cruise (a dubious achievement at best), helms this venture, which might explain the emphasis on movement and flow and less weight on mind-blowing special effects.
The premise turns into a serviceable narrative that gives the mighty ones and their foes plenty to fight over for 2h 4m. Collet-Serra’s background in videos helps him make the footage kinetic. Aerial chases, fights, kidnappings and explosions abound, though none are that dissimilar from those depicted in any other movie of this genre. Average audiences might not care, but hardcore Comic Con heads may feel that Adam’s flying is too tell-tale CGI and that there’s no excuse for cheesy effects in a film with a $200M budget.
The cast is energized. Mohammed Amer (TV’s Ramy series) as Adrianna’s brother and driver Karim provides comic relief and Bodhi Sabongui, as her spunky son, should appeal to kids, tweens and teens. When you need someone to be the bad guy, actor Marwan Kenzari (Aladdin) knows how to pour on seething, hissing villainy liked a viper. All the members of the JSA have verve, though the powers of Atom Smasher and Cyclone possess are unimpressive.
Johnson, over the course of a 21-year, up-and-down movie career, has built a prolific actioner resume. Looks like a wrestler, struts like a movie star and acts like he could kick anyone’s ass. Here, he’s in his glory. The lighting on his face and physique deifies him. The skintight reptile-looking costume highlights a Mr. Olympia fit body. His glare could stop a locomotive. Johnson’s performance stands atop a high mountain peak, while the script, direction and special effects are left on a plateau.
Opening in theaters October 21st.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkomfZHG5q4
Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com.